Serialographic or spot film apparatus



Dec 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL 3,069,544

SERIALOGRAPHIC OR SPOT FILM APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2 57 FIG. 4 58 a 39m 74 66 93 69 68 64' I23 I 25 63 i P" 207 so I 205 9 I 75 n 6 30 64 I 74 m 39 79 83 62 204 INVENTOR.5:-

ARTHUR J. KIZAUR ROBERT J. MUELLER MITCHELL SKROBI-SH ATTO R N EY Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL 3,069,544

SERIALOGRAPHIC 0R SPOT FILM APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORSZ-w UR J. KIIZAUR ROBERT JIMUELL'ER, MITCHELL SKROBISH ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL 3,069,544

SERIAL-OGRAPHIC OR SPOT FILM APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 .9 FIG. 8 fig FIG 74 L 1 fi .T 87 ae Lwmo 73 :E a be 79' 77 o o I Q I 75 88 91' r CF89 INVENTORS1- ARTHUR J. KIZAUR ROBERT J.MUELLER MITCHELL SKR'OBIISH ATTORN EY Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL SERIALOGRAPHIC 0R SPOT FILM APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed April 25, 1957 FIG. 23

FIG. 24

FIG. 25

Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL 3,069,544

SERIALOGRAPHIC OR SPOT FILM APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1957 1D Sheets-Sheet 8 IN V EN TORS.'

ARTHUR J. KIZAUR ROBERT J. MUELLER MITCHELL SKROBISH BWW ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL SERIALOGRAPHIC OR SPOT FILM APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed April 25, 1957 Ill/l INVENIQ' ARTHUR J. KJZAUR ROBERT J. MUELLER MITCHELL SKROBISH ATTORNE'Y Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL 3,059,544

SERIALOGRAPHIC 0R SPOT FILM APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR$. ARTHUR J. KIZAUR ROBERT J. MUELLER MITCHELL SKROBISH ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL SERIALOGRAPHIC OR SPOT FILM APPARATUS l0 Sheets-$heet 9 Original Filed April 25, 1957 INVENTO ARTHUR J. KIZAUR ROBERT J. MUELLER MITCHELL SKROBISH 2. ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1962 A. J. KIZAUR ETAL SERIALOGRAPHIC OR SPOT FILM APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed April 25, 1957 EYOE Cd q INVENTORS.- ARTHUR J K IZAUR ROBERT J. MUELLER MITCHELL SKROBISH Uite rates 13 Claims. (Ci. Edit-=56} his application is a continuation of our application, Serial No. 655,113 filed April 25, 1957 and entitled Serialographic or Spot Film Apparatus, now abandoned.

The present invention relates in general to X-ray apparatus, and has more particular reference to serialographic or spot film mechanism for supporting and shifting ray sensitive sheets or plates used in producing shadow pictures in X-ray photography and liuoroscopy, in the manner shown in U. Letters Patent Nos. 2,327,603 and 2,552,858.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the character mentioned for supporting and shifting picturing material, such as X-ray film, in position for ray exposure, above a suitable support table, in the making of photographs, said apparatus embodying relatively inexpensive spring actuated means for shifting the supported picturing material between projected picturing and retracted positions in a suitable support structure; a still further object being to provide improved sprinr means operable not only to project the supported picturing material from retracted toward projected picturing position, but also to return the material from projected to retracted position; yet another object being to provide motor driven means for tensioning a driving spring for the performance of its material shifting function.

Another important object is to provide driving spring me ns connected to normally urge carriage supported picturing material in one direction in a support structure, as from a retracted loading position toward a projected picturing position, and separate spring means operable to shift the carriage mounted picturing material in the opposite direction, to return the same to retracted position, against the contrary urge of said driving spring means, including selectively operable latches and stops for controlling the movement of carriage mounted picturing material under the influence of said driving spring means and said separate spring means.

Another important object is to provide improved driving spring means embodying a series of separate components connected in tandem, a component at one end of the series being drivingly connected with a spring tensioning motor, the component at the opposite end of the series being drivingly connectible with a load, such as the ray sensitive materiai support carriage, preferably under the control of selectively operabl clutch means.

Another important object is to provide driving spring means comprising a series of separate spiral spring components and interconnecting wheels, each having a hub portion, adapted for driving connection with the inner end of a spiral spring component, and a relatively oit'set rim portion formed for driving connection with the outer end of an adjacent spiral component, whereby all of the springs may be tensioned by relatively turning the outer end of the spring component at one end of the series with respect to the inner end of the component at the opposite end of the series, such arrangement aiiording an exceedingly compact driving spring assembly providing for the storage of large amounts of driving energy in a spring assembly of relatively short length.

Another important object is to provide improved clutch means for selectively connecting yieldable driving means,

atent ones Patented Drag, 13, p59

such as a spring, with a spring load, such as a sensitive material carriage of the sort herein contemplated; a further object being to provide coupling means selectively operable to disconnect a driving spring or lilre resilient power means from a load object and to provide an anhorage for same to permit it to be tensioned while disconnected from its load, said coupling means being operable to release the power means from anchored condition, and simultaneously to drivingly connect the same with a load.

Another important object is to provide an improved coupling for interconnecting a driving and a driven shaft, said coupling embodying a helical coupling spring carried on a pair of hubs respectively connected with the shaftsto be coupled, said helical spring being wound in a direction to normatly tighten itself upon the hubs in response to turning movement of the driving shaft; a further object being to provide means operable to expand the coupling sprin" on said hubs in order to drivingly disconnect the coupled shafts; a still further object being to provide a pair or" hubs turnably supported on the driven shaft, one way or over-running clutch means drivingly interconnecting said hubs, means connecting one of the hubs with an end of the coupling spring, whereby the hubs may turn freely with the driven shaft as the same is turned by the living shaft through said coupling spring, and means to turn the other of said hubs with respect to the driven shaft to thereby turn the spring connected hub through said over-running clutch in a direction to release the coupling spring from its driving connection with the driving shaft; a further object being to form said over-running clutch as a helical snubbins. spring anchored at one end on movable hub, and having snubbing engagement with the other hub.

Another important object is to provide improved means for anchoring a spring driven shaft against turning movement, as while its driving spring is being Wound up or tensioned; a further object being to employ a helical snubbing spring normally operable to contract upon a pair of hubs, including a stationary hub or bushing, carrying a spring driven shaft and an adjacent shaft connected hub, including means operable to expan the snubbing spring in order to release the spring from its anchorage for load driving purposes.

Another important object is to provide improved spring tensioning JlfifiilS embodying a preferably electric motor connected to wind up or tension at driving spring, a switch for controlling the operation of the motor, and a movable switch actuating member driven in one direction by the motor in tensioning the spring, and in the opposite direction by the driving action of the spring; a further object being to provide a spring driven shaft carrying a nut threaded thereon, and means drivingly' connecting the out with the spring tensioning motor, whereby the not will travel in one axial direction on the shaft in response to spring tensioning actuation of the motor, and in the opposite direction thereon when the shaft is driven by the spring, and means actuated by the nut for operating the motor controlling switch.

Another important object is to provide improved adjustably expansible carriage means for supporting rectangular sensitive material enclosing cassettes of greater length than width for projecting and retracting movement in a support structure, whereby a cassette may be supported in the carriage with its long dimension extending either in the direction of or transversely of the projecting and retracting movement of the carriage means.

Another important object is to provide inexpensive means operable to release a sensitive material cassette from mounted position in a shiftable cassette carriage, when the carriage is in retracted or standby position in a support frame; a further object being to provide a piece of bent wire forming a bellcrank lever pivoted on the support frame, the lever having a cassette releasing arm normally urged, as by means of a spring, to an inactive or standby position beneath the cassette carriage when the same is in its retracted position in the frame, said lever having another arm connected, as by means of a cable, with a manually operable release knob conveniently located on the support frame and manually operable to shift the lever, against the influence of its biasing spring, and thereby apply its cassette releasing arm against the back of a cassette in the carriage to move the same upwardly and thus release the cassette from seated engagement in the carriage.

Another important object is to provide an improved fiuid pressure buffer for arresting carriage movement in retracted and projected positions in the support frame in which mounted; a further object being to provide pneumatic stop buffer means on a cassette carriage, such buffer means embodying a carriage mounted cylinder with a longitudinally movable piston therein and connected with bufier carrying stems projecting, in opposite directions from the piston and outwardly through the opposite ends of the cylinder, in position respectively to engage cooperating retraction and projection stops on the main frame, the projection stop engaging buffer stern being appreciably longer than the retraction buffer stern, in order to accommodate several longitudinally spaced and selectively operable projection stops.

Another important object is to provide an improved selectively operable stop mechanism for determining the relatively projected position of cassette carriage means, said selectively operable stop means being operatively associated with manuaily adjustable means for controlling the clutch coupling of the carriage driving spring mechanism, so that the carriage may be projected and retracted in any desired one of several cassette shifting cycles.

Another important object resides in mounting a serialographic or spot film device of the character mentioned for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, whereby the frame may be disposed either in horizontal picture making position above an X-ray table structure, or, when not in use, may be arranged in vertical, parked position, as above an edge of the table, thereby leaving the space immediately above the table substantially free of obstruction, so that the table may be put to any desired use; a further object being to provide suitable pivot and latching means on the frame of the spot film device, as at the rear or pivotally supported end thereof, and manually operable latch releasing means disposed in convenient position for operation, as at the front or pivot remote end of the support frame.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in F165;

FIGS. 2, 4 and 7 are sectional views respectively taken substantially along the line 22 in FIG. 1, the line 4-t in FIG. 3 and the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show several relatively adjusted positions of the equipment illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in FIGS, 640 inclusive;

FIG. 12 illustrates improved cassette release and frame latching means;

P16. 13 shows a portion of the structure illustrated in EEG. 12;

FiGS. 14-26 inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustratinc serialographic operation of the spot film device;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of selectively operable clutch components comprising helical snubbing springs;

PEG. 28 is a perspective view of a portion of a cassette carriage shifting mechanism;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a shiftable cassette carriage and improved means for shifting and stopping the same, in accordance with the present invention;

FEGS. 3i) and 31 show manually operable mechanism for controlling selectively operable cassette carriage stops, as well as the clutch means for connecting the driving spring with the cassette carriage;

FIGS. 33, 34 and 35 show relatively shifted positions of selectively operable cassette carriage projection stop mechanism; and

FIGS. 32, and 36-44 inclusive, are sectional views respectively taken substantially along the line 3232 in FIGS. 39 and 31; the lines 36 36, 3737 and 38-38 in 5; the line 39'39 in FIGS. 4 and 29'; line 4tl40 in FIG. 5; the line 4141 in FIG. 40; the line 4242 in FIG. 41; and the lines 43-43 and 4-4-44 in FIG. 40.

To illustrate the invention, the drawings (FIGS. 1 and 2) show a table structure 51 providing a top panel 52 for supporting an object or body 53 in position to be pictured or examined by penetrating rays, such as X-rays, and carriage means 54 for supporting a penetrating ray source 55 on one side of the panel 52, the carriage means 54 serving also to support a frame 57 carrying ray sensitive picturing means 58 on the side of the panel 52 remote from the source 55. As a consequence, a beam of penetrating rays 56, transmitted from the ray source through an adjustable shutter box 5? may be provided on the carriage means for controlling the sectional size and shape of the beam 56, and may be delivered through the panel 52 and the examination object 53 supported thereon, and applied to excite the sensitive picturing means 53 for the production of shadow pictures therein.

To support the frame 5'7 in position presenting the picturing means 58 in alinement with rays emitted from the source 55, the carriage means 54 may include portions extending above and at one side of the panel 52, and provide a pair of horizontally spaced apart arms 66 and a frame member 61 interconnecting said arms for carrying the frame.

The support frame 57 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) may comprise a preferably sheet metal housing of generally elongated, rectangular and relatively shallow box-like configuration embodying a bottom Wall 62, opposed side walls 63 and 64, front and rear end walls 65 and 66, and inturned marginal flanges 63', 64', 65' and 66', formed at the upper edges of said opposite side and end walls. The open top of the frame 57 may be closed by a cover plate 67 detachably secured at its edges on said inturned flanges and formed with an opening 68 in its front end, rearwardly of and adjacent to the wall 65, in position forming a picturing station at said opening. The opening 68 may be closed by a panel or layer 69 (FIG. 4) of fluorescent material adapted to become visibly luminous in response to X-ray excitation, to thereby provide a visible shadow picture of the object being examined. Rearwardly of the opening 68, the cover plate may be formed with an additional opening 68 extending between the opening 68 and the rear wall 66 of the frame, said additional opening affording access therethrough to the interior of the: box-like frame 57.

A pair of bracket forming channels '70 (FIG. 5) may be secured, as by welding the same, to the side Walls 64 of the frame, said brackets providing support for pivot studs 71 for tilt-ably mounting the frame 5'7 upon the spaced arms 60 of the support structure 54. The frame 57, accordingly, may be disposed in horizontal position extending above the table top panel 52, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in position presenting the picturing zone, defined by the opening 68, in alinernent with the X-ray beam 56. Alternately, the frame 57 may be swung about the axis of the studs 71 to a vertical position with respect to the top panel 52,, as indicated in dotted lines at 57 in FIG. 2. When in such position, the space above the table top panel will be entirely unobstructed by the spot film device, to allow the table to be used for any purpose.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means substantially instantly and selectively operable to dispose either the fluorescent screen 69 or a ray sensitive sheet or film of photographic material in position for picture making purposes in the penetrating rays 56. To this end, the housing 57 contains mechanism comprising carriage means '72 for receiving and supporting a ray sensitive film cassette 73, and for shifting the same on and longitudinally of the frame 57 from a normally retracted position, at a loading station opposite the opening 68, into any selected one of a number of relativel Y shifted picturing positions at the picturing station beneath the panel 69, the mechanism being then operable to return the carriage means to its retracted position, in which, of course, the screen 69 may be employed to produce visible shadow pictures of the examination object.

Ray sensitive film and film cassettes are normally of rectangular shape, having somewhat greater length than width. The present invention contemplates carriage means which will accept the cassette 73 in position for projection and retraction to and from picturing position in the direction of either its long or short dimension. To this end, the carriage means 72 may comprise a main carriage frame 74 movable in and longitudinally of the support frame 57 between retracted or loading position and proje ted picturing position, and auxiliary cassette carrier 75 supported on and movable with the carriage frame 7 3-, the cassette carrier being shiftable on the carriage frame transversely of the direction of the projecting and retracting movement of the carriage frame.

The carriage frame 74 (FEGS. 3 to may conveniently comprise sheet metal formed to provide upstanding spaced apart side walls 76, 7d and spaced end walls 77 and 77, and an inwardly extending peripheral flange 78 formed on the lower edges of the upstanding side and end walls, to provide a supporting ledge. Frame carrying rollers 79 and 79, adapted for rolling engagement with tracks do and S d secured in the main frame 57, may be mounted on the opposite end walls 77 and 77' of the carriage fra to, said rollers '79 being mounted in spaced relation directly upon the frame member 77, preferably adjacent its opposite ends, while the rollers 7? are mounted in like spaced relation upon a rebent, box-lilre flanged extension 81 of the frame member 77. The extension 81 may be formed with terminal flanges adjacent the rollers 79. Guide rollers 83 may be supported on said terminal flanges, such rollers being thus supported in position to rollingly engage spaced guide portions and 84' of the track hit, in order to secure the carriage frame 7- against movement transversely of the main frame during its projection and retraction on the tracks 88 and 3d.

The cassette carrier 75 may comprise a pair of sheetmetal frame components 85 and 85, including medial portions and 86' and spaced apart, telescopically interiitting leg portions 37, 87 and 55$, 83 at the opposite ends of said medial frame portions and provided with manually releasable latching means E9, whereby the components and 85 may be adjusted to minimum size to support the cassette 73 with its long dimension extending in the direction of movement of the carriage frame 74-, as shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, or to intermediate size to support the cassette 73 with its long dimension extending transversely of the direction of carriage movement, as shown in PEG. 10 of the drawings, the cassette, when in transversely mounted position, being centered in the expanded carried 74, as by means of suitable alining shoulders 90 formed in the frame component By expanding the carrier 74 to maximum adjusted size, limited by the size of the carriage frame 74, the carrier can be made to accommodate a larger cassette in position extending transversely of the direction of carriage frame movement.

The latch means 39 (FIG. 11) may comprise latch members 89R supported on leaf springs 85 8 mounted, one on each of the frame component legs 83, in position to latchingly engage in any selcted one of several latching notches 93N1, d9N2, S9N3, respectively determining minimum, intermediate and maximum carriage sizes. Depressible latch releasing handles 559T may be provided for releasing the members 89R from engagement in the notches.

The medial portion 86 of the frame component 35 may be formed with an outwardly and downwardly bent flange 91 forming a handle to aid in manual adjustment of the carrier. The medial portion 315 of the frame component 85 may be formed with inturned flange 91 in position, between the shoulders 99, to overlie an edge of the cassette 73, on one side thereof, to hold the same in mounted position in the frame. The medial portion 86 of the component 35 may also be formed with an upwardly extending flange carrying a leaf spring 93 in position to engage the other side of the mounted cassette 73, to thereby retain the cassette in mounted position in the carrier.

When a small cassett 73 is mounted longitudinally in the carrier, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9, the carrier 75 may be shifted transversely on the carriage frame 74 between and adjusted in the positions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, or it may be disposed in centered position medially of the positions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Suitable latching means 94 may be provided for yieldingly securing the cassette carrier on the carriage frame in each of said transversely shifted and centered positions.

The latching means 94 may comprise latching rollers 94R yieldingly supported on the carrier 75, as on the component legs 87' and 38'. As shown, each roller is supported on a leaf spring 945 which in turn is mounted on a bracket 9 secured to a leg of the carrier component in position to selectively engage the latching roller in any of several latching openings %Nil, MN-2, Wild-3 and 94N-4, spaced apart on the overlying side of the carriage frame, said openings respectively corresponding with and defining: The FIG. 8 position and also the centered position of the carrier when adjusted to maximum size to accommodate a large cassette; the FIG. 10 position; the centered position when the carrier is adjusted to minimum size; and the FIG. 9 position.

It will be seen that one lateral half portion of the cassette enclosed film shown as a dot and dash rectangle in upper left corner of cassette may be centered in the ray beam 56 at the picturing station, when the carrier is in the FIG. 8 position, while the other lateral half portion of the cassette enclosed film will be centered in the beam at the picturing station when the carrier is in the relative position shown in FIG. 9. When the cassette 73 is mounted transversely in the carrier, as shown in FIG. 16, or when the carrier is expanded to maximum size to receive a larger cassette, the cassette will be supported only in centered position with respect to the carriage frame 74.

Selectively operable stop means 95, shown more particularly in FIGS. 29-35, may be provided for stopping the carriage frame 74 selectively in positions of maximum, minimum and intermediate projection measured from retracted position. By suitably selecting the projected position of the carriage frame in the housing, and by adjusting the transverse position of the carrier 75 in the carriage frame 74, any desired quarter or half portion or all of a cassette enclosed sheet of ray sensitive accuses 7 material may be centered at the exposure station. By successively adjusting the relatively shifted positions of the carrier and carria e frame, the several adjacent zones of a ray sensitive cassette enclosed layer may be successively centered for exposure at the picturing station.

In this connection, the four views, FIGS. l t--17 inclusive, illustrate the successive exposure of the quarter sectional areas of a ray sensitive sheet by stopping the carriage frame 74 alternately in its positions of minimum and maximum projection, while successively adjusting the carrier 75 in its FIG. 8 and 9 positions.

The two views comprising FlGS. 18a and 18b illustrate the successive exposure of opposite end sections of a cassette enclosed ray sensitive sheet by centering the cassette carrier 75 in the carriage frame, with the cassette 73 extending longitudinally, and by successively adjusting the stop means to stop the carriage frame M in positions of minimum and maximum projection. FIGS. 19a and 1% illustrate the exposure of opposite side sections of a cassette enclosed sheet, by stopping the carriage frame in its position of medial projection while successively disposing the carrier 75 in the FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 positions. By mounting the cassette '73 transversely, as shown in H6. 10, and by successively stopping the carriage frame '74 in its positions of minimum and maximum projection, successive exposures of the sort illustrated in FIGS. 20 21 may be accornpilshed on a cassette enclosed sheet of ray sensitive material.

By centering the carrier 75 in the carriage frame and by stopping the frame in its position of medial projection, exposure of the entire cassette enclosed sheet may be accomplished, as indicated in Fl-GS. 22 and 23 respectively, when the cassette is mounted longitudinally, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, or transversely, as shown in By adjusting the carrier 75 to its position of maximum expansion within the carriage frame 74, a large cassette may be mounted i, the carrier, in order that exposures of the sort shown in PlG-S. 24, 25 and 26 may be accompl hed, respectively, by stopping the carriage frame 74 its positions of minimum, maximum and medial projections. The large cassette, of course, can only be mounted with its long dimension extending transversely of the direction of carriage projecting movement.

It will be understood, of course, that the shutter box 59 should be adjusted to confine the ray beam 56 to appropriate sectional size configuration at the exposure station, to correspond with the ray sensitive film exposure areas shown in PlGS. 14-26.

As shown more particularly in 29, a preferably helical tension spring is employed for normally and yieldingly urging the carriage frame 7 toward projected position, said spring being anchored at end in the frame 57, as on an anchorage pin @7 secured in said frame adjacent the rear wall as thereof. Means is provided for connecting the opposite end of the spring 96 with the carriage frame 74, in order to normally urge the same forwardly in the main frame 5'7 in a direction away from the rear wall 66 thereof. As shown, the end of the spring 96, remote from the anchorage pin 97, may be fastened to a movable pulley bracket in which. a pulley 9? is tutnably mounted. A power transmission line comprising a cord or ca. .e is connected at one end to the bracket 98, passing thence around a pulley fill-:2 turnably mounted about a stationary axle pin lull in the frame 57 adjacent the forward end thereof, then around the pulley 99 and again about a pulley ft fb, on the pin Till, the other end of the cable 190 being con nected to the carriage frame 7 as at the front end thereof. It will be seen that the helical spring 96 is thus connected to yieldingly draw the bracket $3 toward to anchorage pin $7, to thereby urge the pulley wheels 99 and lull apart, thus urging the cable to draw the carriage fr me 74 from the rearward toward the forward end of the frame Separate spring means is provided for shifting the carriage frame 74- and picturing material carried thereby, against the influence of the projecting spring 95, in order to return the carriage frame from projected to retracted position in the rearward portions of the frame 57. For this purpose the present invention contemplates improved driving spring means LE2 (F168. 3, 5, 36 and 40) of novel construction and-comprising a series of separate, adjacently disposed, spiral spring components 193, each housed in a corresponding wheel (FIGS. 40 and serves to drivingly connect its associated component with the next adjacent component of the series, said series of components forming a sectional power spring assembly drivingly connected at one end, through suitable coupling means 1&5, with a spring tensioning motor M, the opposite end of said sprin assembly being drivingly connected, through a selectively operable coupling clutch structure 1% (FIGS. 29 and 4G), with a driving shaft M7 carrying a pulley wheel 1053 having a preferably helical cable carrying groove Hil A frame shifting cable lid is connected a one end at an anchorage ill on the pulley 1493;, and passes thence several times around the pulley in the helical groove From the pulley 1%, the cable 116 may extend around a pulley 112 turnably mounted upon a stationary axle pin in the main frame 57 near the front end thereof, the cable 116 passing thence longitudinally of the frame 57 adjacent the side wall 63 thereof, and around another guide pulley 113 adjacent the rear wall on thereof, the end of the cable fill being secured in an anchorage llld on the carriage frame 74 in order to draw the same toward the back of the frame 5'7 against the contrary influence of the spring 96, whenever nd so long as the coupling clutch means 1% is actuated to apply the driving force of the spring means for to the cable pulley 1538.

Each of the spring components li -i=3, as shown more particularly in FIG. 44-, is provided with hooks 115 and 115' respectively, at the inner and outer ends of the helical component. The component housing wheels 1%, as shown more particularly in FIG. 46, may each comprise a central hub 116 formed with a spring engaging shoulder 116 adapted for booking engagement with the hook 115 at the inner end of the component which is mounted upon said hub. Each housing wheel also embodies a web ill? formed on the hub 11.6 at an end thereof, in position overlying one side of the component connected on the hub, each wheel having a peripheral rim 118 formed on and extending outwardly of the web 117 on the ide thereof opposite the hub lid. The rim of each wheel thus may encircle and enclose the spring component 1553 immediately adjacent the hub connected component, said adjacent components being disposed on opposite sides of the web 117. The rim portion 155 of each. wheel is formed with a slot 11? extending therein from the web to and opening at the web remote edge of the rim, said slot being sized to drivingly receive the hook 15 at the outer end of the component that is assembled and housed within the rim.

The rim portion 113 may be omitted from the end most spring mounting wheel at one end of the spring assembly M2, and a mounting embossment 1213 may be formed on the web 117 of said endmost mounting wheel, on the side of said web opposite the spring mounting hub 1E6 thereof. All of the mounting wheels 16 2-, except the endmost wheel, are turnably mounted in end to end relationship, by means of their hubs H6, upon a shaft 121, the endmost wheel being drivingly secured to the shaft 123, as by means of set screws 122. in the boss 12d, or other suitable splining means. The shaft 121 is turnably mounted on the frame 57, as in bracket means 123 secured on said frame along one side thereof, as on the flange 63', the shaft 322 being supported in a suitable bearing F t mounted in a pedestal portion of the bracket 12 The hub 116 o the housing wheel res (FIGS. 40 and 43) at the end of the spring assembly remote from the wheel tea, may be drivingly secured in a collar 126 by any suitable fastening expedient, said collar 126 forming one end of a turntable frame, including a plate 127 spaced from the collar, and a pair of rods 128 secured at their opposite ends in the collar and plate to drivingly interconnect and support the same in spaced relation, the plate 127 being formed with a stem disposed in coaxial alinement with the shaft 121 and being turnably supported, as in a bearing 13 h, carried in a pedestal 131 spaced from the pedestal 125 in the bracket means 123. An end of the shaft 121 remote from the bearing 124 is turna'oiy supported, as at 132, in the plate 127. Between the collar 12s and the plate 127 the shaft 121 may be formed with screw threads 133 for engagement with corresponding threads formed in a nut 134, said nut being secured on and centrally of a disc or plate 135 having openings 136 formed therein for the sliding reception of the rods 123.

The motor M may be supported on pedestal 137 formed on the bracket means 123 in position spaced from the pedestal 131; and the motor may be drivingly connected with the frame member 127 by means of a suitable coupling or clutch drivingly interconnecting the shaft 139 of the motor with the shaft 129 of the turnable frame.

By holding the shaft 121 against turning movement in the pedestal 125, as by operation of the clutch means 1%, it will be seen that the spring components 163 may be tensioned to any desired extent within the capacity thereof by operating the motor M. When the motor is actuated it will turn the endrnost component mounting wheel with which the motor is drivingly connected by the coupling 136 and the frame comprising the components 1215, 121' and When the spring components have been tensioned to the desired extent, the motor may be stopped. Thereupon, the tensioned spring may be employed to accomplish any desired driving operation, such as the retraction of the carriage frame 74 against the influence of the spring 96, by operating the clutch means 135 to release the shaft 121, and simultaneously to drivingly connect the same with the pulley 1%.

in order to control the operation of the motor M in accordance with the 'ensioned condition of the spring components 133, a normally closed microswitch 140 (FIG. 43) having an actuating button 141, may be connected to control the supply of energizing power to the motor M. The microswitch may be mounted in the frame means in position to be actuated by an axially movable stem 142 supported in a carrying sleeve 143 formed on the frame means 123 adjacent the microswitch. A grooved member 144, which snugly receives the edge of the disc 135, may be secured on the stem 142 so as to move the stem axially in response to movement of the disc 135 on the shaft 121. in this connection it should be understood that the plate 135 will move in a direction to shift the stem 1112 from retracted to projected switch opening engagement with the switch actuatmember 141 when the motor M is operated to turn the frame components 126, 127 and 128 Wl't'h respect to the shaft 121 in tensioning the spring components 103. Accordingly, the switch actuating stem 142 may serve to open the switch when the components have become tensioned to desired extent by operation of the motor Upon release of the anchored shaft 121 to apply the tensioned spring components to drive a load, rotation of the threads with respect to the disc 135 will move the disc on the threads in a direction to retract the stem 14?. from the member 141, thereby allowing the itch 142 to close and thus actuate the motor to retension the spring components 183.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 40, 41 and 42, the coupling clutch means 1% comprises a series of spring elements 145, 1 16 and 147. The spring 145 is 111 selectively operable to anchor the shaft 121 against actuation by the power springs 1113, or to release the shaft 121 for turning movement. The spring 146 serves to drivingly connect the shaft 121 with the load connected shaft "2. The spring 147 operable to control the selective operation of the element 146 regardless of the position of angular displacement to which said coupling element 146 may be turned when conditioned to couple the driven and driving shafts 1137 and 121.

The coupling clutch structure 1% comprises cylindrical hub members 143, 149, 155i, 151 and 152 carrying the snubbing spring elements 14-5, 146 and 147 on the driven and driving shafts 1117 and 121.

The member 143 is fastened securely upon a face of the pedestal in position to turnably receive theret nrough the end of the shaft 121 which projects through an l beyond said member 148.

The member is secured fast upon the projecting end of the shaft 121, as by means of a pin 153, the member 14% being thus supported immediately adjacent and outwardly of the member 148. The pulley carrying driven shaft 1d? may be journalled for rotation in a hearing mounted in a pedestal 155 spaced from the pedestal 125 in the bracket means 123, the pulley remote end of the shaft 1117 being turnably mounted, as in a bearing 1154, supported in a cavity formed in the member 14-9 so that the driven and driving shafts 107 and 121 are supported firmly in coaxial, end to end alinement, but free for relative rotation except as controlled by the springs 145, 1 16 and 147.

The hub member 15%? is secured fast upon the end of the driven shaft 167, as by means of a pin 156, the member 15% being supported for relative turning movement immediately adjacent the shaft supporting end of the member 1 15".

The members 151 and 152 are turnably supported on the shaft 1%? in end to end abutting relationship, the member 151 extending immediately adjacent and in contact with the member 15%.

The hub members may be held in end to end engagement, as by means of a spacing collar 157 mounted on the shaft 1117 between the bearing 154 and the facing end of the member 152. The members 1 -18 and 1d) are of like diametral dimension and form a cylindrical seat for the snubbing spring element 145, the spring being seized normally to snugly and resiliently, yet yieldingly embrace the cylindrical spring seating surfaces of the members 148 and 149. One end of the spring element is anchored to the element 1 23, as by engagement of the spring end in an a choring notch formed in said member, the opposite end of the spring element forming an outwardly extending linger 159. The spring element 14-5 is coiled upon the members and so as to snubbingly tighten itself thereon in response to turning movement of the shaft 121 under the driving influence of the spring means 162. By moving the projecting end 159 of said spring, in a direction to expand the coils thereof which encircle the member 14-9, the spring may be released from the member .9, which consequently may turn freely with the shaft 121 under the driving influence of the spring means 102.

The hub member 158 is preferably of slightly smaller diameter than the member 149. One end of the spring element 14-6 tightly embraces and is thus frictionally anchored on the member 149. The opposite end of the spring element 1% snugly and resiliently, yet yieldingly, embraces the member the terminal end of the spring element being formed with an outstanding clutch actuating finger 159'. The spring element 146 thus drivingly engages the cylindrical surface of the member 156 in self tightening fashion, to thereby turn the driven shaft 1W7 in response to turning movement of the driving shaft 121, the spring element being coiled in a direction to accomplish such self tightening action. by moving the prol l jecting finger 159' of the spring element 14s, in a direction to expand the coils thereof, the spring may be released from driving engagement with the membe 15h.

Means is provided for selectively releasing the spring element 146 from the member 150 and for permitting it to contract thereon in selr tightening fashion, while simultaneously anchoring the spring element 3.45 on and rcleasing the same from the member To this end, the hub members llSl and 152 preferably have like diametral dimension and carry the snubbing spring element ll ii thereon. The member 152 has a peripheral ha end thereof, said flange carrying an outwardly extending actuating pin 162 (PEG. 4G) and a spring release finger 163 extending in position outwardly of and overlying the spring elements 146 and 147, said linger having a pc "on disposed in position to engage the outstanding end of the spring element 345. The spring element M7 is size normally to snugly and resiliently, yet yieldingly embrace the cylindrical spring seating surfaces of the members E51 and 152 so that the spring forms a one way driving connection between said members, the spring element being coiled thereon so as to permit the member 153 to turn freely, with. respect to the member 152, within the embracing portions of tie spring element i l-'7, when the shaft M l is turningly driven by the shaft The member 3 51; has a peripheral rib 151' at the end thereof adjacent the shaft driving member liv d, said rib carrying a spring actuating plate 164 (FIGS. 40, 41) formed with a notch in position receiving the clutch actuating finger 159'. Accordingly, as the member 152 (FlG. 42) is turned in a direction to release the spring element 1 .5 from anchoring engagement with the member i l-t9, the member 151 will not be driven with the memher 152, and will not altect the condtion of the spring 146. The spring 146, accordingly, will be in condition to assure self tightening driving connection between the shafts and 1127, as soon as the spring is released from the member 149. As the shaft M7 is thus driven, the finger 159' of the spring 146 will engage actuating plate 16 i and thereby turn the mom or 3151 in unison with the member 15d and the shaft 1E7. Thus, said member 151, at all times and regardless of the angular position of the member ffitl with respect to the member 152, will always be in position to expand the spring element res and release driving engagement thereof with the member 159 in response to turning movement of the member 152 in a direction to release the anchoring spring element 1455 upon the hub element 1 .49. The slot 165 in plate 1-54 provides lost motion, whereby the spring element 146 will drivingly engage plate is; and the member 1545 as the anchoring spring element is released from the hub 149. The spring will be drivingly disengaged from the shaft driving hub after anchoring engagement of the spring element with the hub 149.

Spring actuating movement of the member 152 (HG. 42) may be accomplished by e mechanism comprising an arm 1 66 (FIGS. 28, 39, 4(1) rockably supported on a pivot 167 mounted in the bracket means 7523, the arm 166 being formed, at one end, with an opening a 8 for drivin ly receiving the res therein. The end of the arm l-iti remote tuating pin 16%; and the arm may be connected with a toggle or over-center spring 27s for yieldigly holding the arm resiliently in one or other of the limit positions shown in l lS-S. 30" and 31, as determined by stop pins 371 which may be mounted on the bracket means eby applying the means frame against the influence an stall from the openinr may carry acagainst turning movement. The shaft M7, at such time, is drivingly disconnected from the shaft 12th Suitable means is provided for selectively shifting the arm res between the limit positions shown in F185. 30

may o women y con rise an pressure cylinder 1'74 secured on a bracket attached to the frame extension till, said cylinder extending in the direction of longitudinal frame projecting and retracting movement. The cylinder contains a piston 176 carried on a stem 7177 extend ng coaxi y within the cylinder and having outwa. 7y extend. l opposite ends and 178 sealed by means of suitable packing gland structures 179 and 179'. The cylinder is provided with adjustable air flow vents ldd and Lil at opposite ends adjacent the packing gland structures and 179 The stop 173 173' (FIG. 39), which preferably comprise pads of rubber or other resilient material, are mounted at the terminal ends of the stem portions 17$ and 37d. By suitably adjusting the vents 180 and the carriage frame 74- may be brought gently to buffered standstill condition in retracted, as Well as in any projected position, as determined by the stop means $25. A spacing sleeve 174 may be applied around the st-m end 173, between the member 173 and the gland 17*"), to thereby apply frame stopping force from the e 173 directly to the cylinder 174, through the gland, ther by relieving the stem and piston of such force. A resilient spacing collar l74'R may likewise be applied to the stem end. 172%.

in order to selectively adjust the stop means 95 and to control the ope r on of the clutch structure 1535, a shaft "'l, connected with a manually operable handle (FIGS. 5 and 30-32), may be turnably mounted in the frame adjacent the front wall 65 thereof, said shaft carrying a pair or" radiall extending arms 183 and F l fixed thereon, The outer end of the arm 183 may be drivingly connected with the clutch control member as by means of a linkage, inclu ing a lever 185 GS. 28 and 32} and a connecting rod 136. The y may be pivoted on the frame 52 as by means of pin lo7 (FEGS. 28, 3t) and 31) mounted on said rrame, an end of said lever hi5 being formed with a. slot or notch in position to receive and thereby drivin 'ly connect lever with the pin The rod LE9). member may be pivotally connected at its opposite ends respectively with error 183 and the lever res. As a con uence, by 'ng the handle to the positions shown in 30 31, the clutch means 105 may be actuated rcspectitely to couple the shafts lit? retract the carriage to loadto uncouple the shafts to thereby perction of the car 'age frame.

frame may he stopped in any one of a p; raiity of relatively oi ed positions in the picturing station as b selectively operating the stop means 95 we, may comprise for turning movement d a frame stopping ton shown in 30, in which the shoe 1% extends in intermediate lever 13%.

see-9,544

of minimum projection. As shown, the arm 139 may be held in frame stopping position against the influence of the spring 192 by means of a position determining lever 193 (FIGS. and 30, 31) pivoted for rocking movement on a support pin 1% mounted in the mai frame 57 and drivingiy connected with the arm 184 (FIG. 32). By rocking the lever 1% on its pivot, the member 1&9 may be shifted to the position shown in FIGS. 31 and 34, in which the shoe 391 is displaced outwardly of the path of movement of tile stop member 173. Accordingly, when the member 118% is in such displaced position, the carriage frame 74 may be moved to a position of maximum projection determined by the engagement of the stop member 173 with a cooperating step element which may conveniently comprise the front wall 65 of the frame.

in order that the stop member 139 may be shifted al' ternately to the control positions shown in H65. 30 and 31 and 33 and 34, as the result of successive clutch actuating operations of the handle 182, the lever 193 may be rocked by means of a driving cam 195' through an The cam 195 is indexingly turnable in response to actuation of the handle 1&2, as by means of a ratchet wheel 1% drivingly connected with the cam, and a pawl member 197 pivotally connected with the arm 184 (FIG. 32). The cam 195 may have square peripheral configuration and may be drivingly associated with an intermediate lever 11%, rockable on a pivot pin 199 supported on the frame 57, the lever 198 having an end connected with the position determining lever 193, and a cam following end adapted alternately to be engaged by the corners and the sides of the square cam. Obviously, any other suitable actuating means may be provided for moving the lever 1% alternately to the positions shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 in response to successive clutch actuating movement of the handle 132.

Such alternate operation of the stop position determining lever 193 is desired in order to accomplish alternate projection of the carriage frame 74 to positions of minimum and maximum projection, so as to permit the eX- posure of cassette mounted film in the sequences shown in FIGS. 14-17, FIGS 18 and 19, F365. 20 and 21, and in FIGS. 24 and 25.

In order to assure that the handle 182, when actuated to shift the mechanism from the position shown in PEG. to the position shown in FIG. 31, and vice versa, may not be returned to starting position before being fully turned to the shifted position, the arm 133 may be formed with a nose 133 formed with a pocket 1 3 i facing radially away from the axis of the shaft lot on which said arm is roclzably mounted. A toggle detent 135 is pivotally mounted for turning movement about an axis 136' spaced from the axis of the shaft 131, said detent having a nose adapted for engagement in the pocket 12%, and being normally urged as by means of a spring 1&7, to present the nose of the detent 1 3$ midway between the positions occupied by the pocket me, when the mechanism is in the limit positions shown in FIGS. 30 and 31.

The spacement of the detent axis tee from the axis of the shaft 181 is slightly less than the sum of the distance between the bottom of the poclte 134' and the axis of the shaft 181, and the distance from the axis 1% and the tip of the nose of the detent 185. In turning the handle from one limit position, such as that shown in FIG. 30, toward the other limit position, movement of the nose 183 will first tilt the detent 135 about the axis lilo until a position of the arm 3.553 is reached permitting the nose of the detent 185 to enter the pocket 134. Such position is reached after the pocket 13d has passed through the plane that is common to the axis 186 and the axis of the shaft 181.

When the nose of th detent 135 thus enters the pocket 18% it will be seen that the movement of the handle 182 cannot be reversed thereafter until the limit position shown in HS. 31 is reached. As such limit position is reached, the nose of the detent will be released from the pocket 18d, thereby permitting the etent 135, under the influence of the spring 1E7, to assume its normal position in line with the axis of the shaft 181, as shown in FIG. 30, the detent 1555 being shown in FIG. 31 in position immediately prior to the release of its nose from the pocket 18%, such release occurring in response to slight additional movement of the handle Hi2 and the arm. Zi -3 in a counterclockwise direction, viewing FIG. 1.

In order to stop the carriage frame M in a position of medial projection, so as to permit film exposure of the entire sheet of ray sensitive material, as shown in 22, 23 and 26, the stop member 189 may be turned degrees from its solid line position to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 30 (also FIG. 33 to FIG. 35), such dotted line position being determinable by engagement of the member 189? with a stop pin 2% (FIG. 35) mounted in the frame 57 against which pin the member 189 will be urged by the action of the sprint acting as a toggle or over-ceutering device. The member lit? may thus be shifted to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 30 by means of a control handle Ztll (FiGS. 5, 33-36) formed on the upwardly projecting end of the pivot pin 1% upon which the stop member 1.39 is, secured. The handle is preferably provided with an index pointer adapted to indicate the adjusted position of the stop member on a square formed on the frame 557 adjac nt the index pointer.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 12 (PlGS. 3 and 4) of the drawings, cassette ejecting means 2% may be provided on the frame in position operable to displace the cassette 73 mounted in the carrier 7'5 upwardly, when the carriage means 7?; is in retracted position at the loading station as, to thereby facilitate removal of the cassette from the carrier. To this end, the ejecting means may comprise a length of wire bent to form a bellcrank lever pivotally secured upon the bottom wall of the frame 5'7 substantially medially of the loading zone as, said lever including a cassette ejecting arm adapted to normally lie against the bottom wall of the frame 5'7, and an upstanding arm normally urged, as by means of a biasing spring 2%, in a direction to resiliently press the arm toward retracted position against the bottom wall of the frame 57. An actuating cable 2b? is connected with the arm 2% and is guided thence along and adjacent the rear, side and front walls as, and of the frame, by means of guide pulleys 2"" turnably mounted in the frame add jaccnt the opposite ends of the side walls or, the end of said cable 2W, remote from the arm being connected with a manually operable handle shiftably mounted at the front of the frame :37, as adjacent the clutch and stop actuating handle 1.32, so that by pressing the handle (FIGS. 12 and l) the cassette ejecting bellcrank means may be actuated against the influence of the biasing spring to perform its cassette ejecting function.

Suitable spring means, operativeiy associated with the pivots 71 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 12), may be provided for normally urging the frame 57 toward its parked position, as indicated in dotted lines at 57 in FIG. 2. From such parked position, the frame 57 and mechanism assembled thereon may he moved downwardly, by manual action, to the horizontal operating position above the table top as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, as determined by suitable cooperating stops 21% (FIG. 5) form d on the brackets and on the support arm 6%, suitable latch means 21?. being provided for locking the frame 57 in operating position in the support frame 54. As shown, the latch means 213. (FREE. 5, l2, 13) may comprise a belt 212 mounted in the rear wall 66 of the frame 57 and movable axially therein for detachable engagement with a keeper formed in the support frame structure opposite the bolt carrying portion of the frame 57. The bolt 212 ay be connected on the end of an actuating stem Z13 extending from the bolt along and inwar ly of the side wall 6 5 of the frame 57, the bolt remote end of the stem 213 projecting forwardly of the front wall as of the frame 57 and being formed with an operating knob or handle 214 (FIGS. 3, 5, l2, 13). A preferably helical spring n15 may be pro vided in position encircling the stem 21?; to urge the same in a direction to press the bolt 212 normally into keeper engaging position, so that the bolt will latch itself, with its cooperating keeper, as and when the frame 5? is drawn to horizontal operating position. The latch 211, of course, may be released to permit the return of the frame 57 to upright parked position, merely by manually pulling upon the knob at the front end of the frame.

Should the latch 211 become released with the carriage means 72 in projected position, it will be seen that said carriage means, by the action of gravity, will move to retracted position against the influence of the relatively weak projecting spring 96; and since the carriage mean '72-, with ray sensitive material cassette loaded therein, represents a considerable mass, such return movement to retracted position when the frame 57 reaches upright parked position, may result in damage to the carriage means. To obviate such possibility, the present invention provides means for assuring the release of the latch means 211 and consequent movement of the frame 57 to upright parked position, only when the carriage means is in its retracted position at the loading station 68'. To this end, a latching arm 2 16 (FIGS. 5, l2, 13 may be pivotally supported in the frame 57, adjacent the bolt 212, said latching arm being formed with a detent 217 and being normally urged, as by a spring in a direction to engage the tooth 217 with the bolt 212 to hold the same in latching engagement with its detent. The arm 216, as shown more especially in FIG. 5 of the drawings, normally extends into the space that will be occupied by the carriage means 72 when the same is in retracted position. As a consequence, the arm 216 will be actuated by the carriage means 72 against the influence of the spring 2ft; so as to withdraw the detent 221? from latching engagement with the belt 212, thereby freeing the bolt 212 for latch releasing movement whenever and only when the carriage means is in retracted position.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Spot film mechanism comprising a frame defining a storage area and a work station spaced from said storage area, a carriage movable on said frame between a re tracted position in said storage area and a projected position at said work station, biasing means initially stressed to urge said carriage toward one of said positions, a power spring, means to keep the power spring energized to provide a source of immediately available energy, and means to connect the power spring to the other of said positions against the influence of said biasing means and to re-encrgize said biasing means for a subsequent operation.

2. Spot film mechanism comprising a frame defining a storage area and a work station spaced from said storage area, a carriage movable on said frame between a retracted position in said storage area and a projected position at said work station, biasing means to normally urge lid said carriage toward one of said positions, a power spring operable to move the cariage back to the other of said positions against the force of the biasing means, and a clutch selectively operable to drivingly connect said power spring with the carriage, and to disconnect the power spring from the carriage after the carriage is moved back to said other position.

3. Spot film mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the clutch comprises a pair of adjacently disposed, coaxially alined wheels drivingly connected respectively with said motive means and said carriage, a helical driving spring resiliently embracing and having portions contractingly engaging the peripheral surfaces of said wheels to drivingly interconnect the same, and a clutch release member connected w. it said spring and turoable in a direction to expand the same to release the driving engagement thereof with the wheel embraced thereby.

4. Sip-0t film mechanism comprising a frame providing a work station and a storage area spaced therefrom, a carriage movable on said frame between a projected position at said work station and a retracted position at said storage region, a work spring energized normally to urge the carriage toward one of said positions, and power spring means operable to move the carriage to the other of said positions, and to re-energize the work spring, said power spring means embodying a series of spiral coil spring elements and means drivingly connecting said elements in tandem or cascade relationship.

5. Spot film mechanism comprising a frame providing a work station and a retracted region spaced therefrom, a carriage movable on said frame between said work station and said retracted position at said storage region, a work spring normally energized to urge said carriage toward one of said positions, power spring means operable to move the carriage to the other of said positions, and to re-energize the work spring, a clutch selectively operable to drivingly connect one end of said power spring means to the carriage, means for disconnecting the clutch from the carriage d from said one end of said power spring means when disconnected from said carriage, and motive means drivingly connected with the other end of said power spring means and operable to tension said power spring means to maintain a predetermined energy content in the spring means.

6. Spot film mechanism comprising a frame providing a work station, a carriage movable on said frame between a retracted position remote from said station and a projected position at said station, and an expansible cassette carrier supported on said carriage and embodying two parts telescopically contractible and expansible in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of the carriage on said frame.

7. A spot film tunnel for X-ray apparatus, said tunnel comprising:

(a) a tunnel guide frame having a projected exposure or work station and a retracted or storage region for a cassette frame;

(b) a cassette carriage supported in the guide frame and movable between the proiected work station and the retracted storage region at the will of an operator;

(c) a helical spring having one end anchored on the guide frame and the other end mcveable to apply a force to the cassette carriage;

(0.) a block and tackle having one pulley block movable and tied to the free end of the spring and the other block puley pivotally anchored with a flexible cord around the pulleys and having one end tied to the movable block and the other end tied to the cassette carriage, whereby the spring when stresse and extended will pull on the tackle to cause the cord to bias the cassette carriage toward the prcjected work station; and

(e) control operable at the will of the operator for (1) extending and stressing the spring and hold- 17 ing the spring in such stressed position with the cassette carriage held in retracted position, or for (2) releasing the spring and cassette carriage to permit the spring to contract and to move the cassette carriage from retracted position to projected working position.

8. A spot film tunnel, as in claim 7, in which said control means includes:

(1) an electric motor to be energized from an external source;

(2) energy storage power spring means;

(3) means responsive to the stored energy condition of said power spring means for controlling the connections between the motor and said external source, to maintain said power spring means in energized condition; and

(4) coupling means operative between the power spring means and the cassette carriage to return the carriage from its proiected working position to its retracted position, while simultaneously energizing and stressing said helical spring attached to the block and tackle.

9. Spot film mechanism, as in claim 6, in which the movable carriage consists of a frame of fixed dimensions, and the expansible cassette carrier consists of a frame disposed on and nested within the limits of the movable carriage frame, and said cassette carrier frame having two cooperating said portions telescopically adjustable, transversely to the direction of movement of the movable carriage, to receive and hold cassettes of predetermined difi'erent dimensions.

10. Spot film mechanism, as in claim 6, in which the movable carriage consists of a frame of fixed dimensions, and the expansible cassette carrier consists of a twopart telescopic frame, each of such two parts being also movable, relative to and on the movable carriage frame, to locate and to position cassettes of different dimensions in various locations on the carrier and with the respective major axes of the cassettes variously oriented on the movable carriage.

11. Spot film mechanism, as in claim 10, in which one part of the expansible telescopic cassette carrier embodies two retaining and guide lugs which mechanically link the movable carriage to prevent separation of the cassette carrier from the carriage, but leave the carrier frame free to be physically adjustably shifted on and within the carrier frame to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions;

and in which the second part of the expansible telescopic cassette carrier is, in turn, mechanically linked to said first part of the cassette carrier by two retaining and guide elements that permit only sliding endwise relative movement between the two parts of the cassette carrier from a compressed relation of minimum dimension to an expanded relation of maximum dimension;

and in which latching means are mounted on the first 1% part of the cassette frame for releasably latching said first part of the cassette frame to the carrier frame; and in which latching means are mounted on the second part of the cassette frame to releasably latch such second part to the'first part of the cassette frame in any selected position of the cassette frame.

12. Spot film mechanism, as in claim 6, in which the movable carriage consists of a shallow dished frame of fixed dimensions with a border seat and upturned wall edges to constitute a confining border rim;

and in which the cassette carrier seats in said carriage frame, the cassette carrier itself constituting a telescopic frame of two opposed interfitting parts, one of such parts being adjustably movable in the shallow dished carriage frame to any selected one of several predetermined positions to engage an oriented cassette of predetermined size, with means mounted on said movable part for resiliently and releasably latching said movable part in such selected position on the carriage frame to hold that one movable cassette part in such selected position;

and in which the second cassette frame part is slidably supported on said first one movable frame part, and embodies means for releasably latching the two parts;

whereby the cassette carrier frame may be adjustably telescoped or expanded to a predetermined dimension to hold a selected cassette, and the cassette carrier may be selectively positioned in one of a preselected group of positions in the carrier frame.

13. Spot film mechanism comprising a movable carriage frame of fixed dimensions;

an expansible and contractible frame to serve as a cassette carrier, said cassette frame having two movable telescoping parts nested in the carriage frame;

means secured to the first movable part of the cassette frame for holding that movable frame part against separation from the carriage frame while permitting relative movement of such movable cassette frame part in and on the carriage frame;

cooperating means on the carriage frame and on the said first part of the cassette frame for releasably latching said carriage frame and said cassette part, in one of several preselected adjusted positions;

and means on the second movable part of the cassette frame for releasably latching the two parts of the cassette frame in a selected one of several predetermined adjusted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,327,603 Kizaur Aug. 24, 1943 2,679,599 Stuhlman May 25, 1954 2,742,126 Morton Apr. 17, 1956 2,756,855 Kloss July 31, 1956 2,834,890 Bastin et a1 May 13, 1958 2,883,545 Guentner et al. Apr. 21, 1959 2,921,202 Berger et al. Jan. 12, 1960 

